A Cooperative Approach To Electrolysis Problems^⋆

The rapid expansion of street railways and interurban lines during the World War I era brought acute problems of stray currents in many municipalities. As early as 1917, the Omaha and Council Bluffs Electrolysis Committee was organized, for the purpose of preventing objectionable competitive drainage, and to provide for systematic electrolysis measurements. Twelve companies cooperated, and through the work of their technicians succeeded in limiting drainage to the smallest practicable amount. In 1920 similar action was taken in Milwaukee at the instigation of the Railroad Commission of Wisconsin. In 1921, J. C. McCabe, research engineer of the city of Detroit, called a meeting of representatives of sub-structure companies of Detroit, and groundwork was laid for the organization of the Detroit Electrolysis Committee which was effected the following year. In these, and similar groups organized elsewhere, it became apparent the nature of electrolysis problems demanded a cooperative, rather than an independent...